Pause for breath

Ribéry: It starts for real on Saturday

Created on 27-07-2012 at 00:00 AM

Bastian Schweinsteiger cut a lonely figure on the practice ground this Friday. The midfielder put in a two-hour shift comprising running and muscle-building exercise. The vice captain, and captain Philipp Lahm, who had a day off on Friday, didn't make the trip to China with the rest of the team, as they were focusing on fitness basics. However, Schweinsteiger and Lahm will rejoin the group on Saturday.

Jupp Heynckes has called his men in for training at 11 am. Some 27 hours earlier, at around 8 am on Friday morning, the Bayern party returned from the tour of China. The players involved were given the rest of the day off. “We've earned a quiet day today," said the head coach.